Spool rack



June 12,A 1951 P. R'. BAccARo SPOOL RACK Filed Dec. 18, 1948 ,m m ,/m) H MRW @M aun. m. n n n "n H v nnnm". 4 n, u yo i-.. m.

/NVENTOR PER R BACCARO ArToR/vEs/s Patented June 12, 1951 UNITED stars orties Claims. (Cl. 242-139) This invention relates to spool racks and more specically contemplates devices for rotatably mounting a large number of spools of thread for use in conjunction with commercial sewing machines.

In sewing rooms of commercial garment fabricating establishments where a large number of operators are employed it is a problem to continually supply each operator with the thread required. Too free distribution of the spools or thread results in loss and theft of spools, whereas the maintenance of a supply room from which each operator may obtain the required spools and to which the spools are returned when no longer needed, is impractical due to excessive loss of the operators time. It is, therefore, desirable that each operator be equipped with a spool rack `which is capable of supporting spools of a number sufficient to assure her provision with most of the colors and grades of thread required in the ordinary run of her work. To be practical, however, it is necessary that the spools supplied to each rack be locked in and accessible for substitution only by authorized persons. This necessitates that the rack be arranged and positioned with relation to the sewing machine in a manner which permits the operator to use any of the spools carried by the rack without removal of the spools from the rack. However, in many instances, racks positioned to accommodate a full supply of spools are very large and unwieldy, and consequently, at least some of the spools cannot be conveniently located.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a sectional, rotary spool rack adapted to contain a large number of spools of thread whereby each spool may be shifted with the section of the rack by which it is carried into convenient juxtaposition with relation to the sewing machine, for use, while the thread of any other spool of any section of the rack may be coincidentally directed to a bobbin of the machine for reeling thereon in preparation for subsequent utility.

More speciiically, it is an object hereof to provide a rotatable spool supporting assembly adapted to be mounted upon the sewing machine, for the pivotal support of a plurality of individual spool racks normally maintained in coaxial relationship but independently movable with respect to the standard and one another for installation and removal of a plurality of spools of thread.

Another object is to provide a device of the character alluded to, incorporating a locking bar by which the several individual racks may be sencured against movement in combination with lmeans for preventing displacement of any of the spools while the racks are locked, thus assuring each operator with a complete stock of thread for use but'preventing unauthorized removal of any of the spools.

Still another object is the provision of a device embodying a plurality of circular racks arranged one above the other, each rack comprising a bottom and a series of spindles for retaining rotatably, a corresponding number of spools, in combination with means to pivotally support the racks in superposed relation whereby the bottom of one rack overhangs the spindles of the rack therebeneath so as to normally prevent removal of the spools carried by the thread spindles, each of the racks being pivotally displaceable to enable substitution of the spools thereon when required. y

Another object is the provision of a pair of thread guides pivotally connected to the lowermost rack of the series, for extension laterally of the composite rack assembly to receive and guide the thread extending from one of the spools to the bobbin of the sewing machine so as to permit thread from a spool in any position on the rack to be freely wound upon a bobbin without contact with any other partof the assembly.

Numerous other objects and salient features of my invention, such for example, as simplicity of construction, compactness, facility in operation as well as in effecting the substitution of the spools, adaptability for convenient location of all spools with respect to the sewing machine, and the provision of an arrangement which permits replacement of the spools without disturbing the operator the sewing machine serviced by the rack, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon an examination of the following description read in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rack assembly embodying my invention with the parts in operative relationship;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the lock for the several individual racks in inoperative position, and one of the racks swung toa position for substitution of spools, and showing, in dotted lines, the means for retarding rotation of the rack assembly upon the base;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view through the locking bar retainer depicting the slot in the plate of the lower-v` 3 most rack into which slot the locking bar engages.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, the numerals of which indicate similar parts throughout the several views, designates a circular base having rigidly secured thereto in vertical position, a tubular standard I5 adapted to rotatably mount the rack assembly about to be described. The base 5 is provided with a plurality of holes 1 for the extension of screws or the like (not shown) by which the unit may be permanently mounted upon the sewing machine for which the thread to be carried by the rack, is supplied.

The rotatable rack assembly comprises a post 8 which is telescopically received within the tubular standard I5. The lower end of the post 8 abuts against the base 5 vwithin the bore of the tube 6. The lower end of the post 8 is vertically split diametrically with the bifurcations 9 9 spread slight apart so as to frictionally engage the bore of the standard and thereby slightly retard rotation of the rack assembly supported by post 8. Secured across the upper end of the post, exteriorly o1 the standard 6, and in horizontal position, is a supporting vbar I Il of a rack frame. Mounted rigidly in vertical position upon one end of the supporting bar II! is a rod ii for the pivotal support of a plurality of individual spool racks I2, hereinafter more in detail described. At the opposite end of the supporting bar Iil, a tubular member I3 is similarly arranged and rigidly mounted to contribute support to the several racks i2 and to accommodate a locking bar Il by which the racks I2 are secured in operative positions.

Each of the racks I2 consist of a circular plate I5 of a diameter approximating the length of the bar II] and having a hole (not shown) adjacent the periphery thereof for extension of the pivot rod II. Secured in Vertical position upon the plate I5 with its bore registering with the hole last referred to, is a spacer tube I6 having a bore only slightly larger diametrically than the rod Ii. The tube I6 is longer than the longest spool for the support of which the rack is provided. A plurality of spool spindles I1 are mounted vertically by suitable means to the plate I 5 in a circle which is concentric with the latter. The distance between each spindle I'I and the periphery of the rack plate I5 is slightly greater than the diameter of the largest spool to be used therewith, and the spindles are spaced from one another slightly more than twice that distance. Encircling the spindles I'I above the periphery of the plate is a band I8, supported from the plate by a plurality of brackets I9. Radially of each spindle I1, the band I8 is formed with a small opening for the extension of a thread 2l leading from an adjacent spool 22, for a purpose hereinafter described.

The racks l2 are arranged on the rod II in vertical relationship, the plate l5 of each superposed rack I2 being supported and spaced slightly from the upper ends oi the spindles I'I of the subjacent rack by the spacer tube IB of the latter. With the racks I2 in normal arrangement as described, the distance between the upper ends of the spindles Il on each of the lower racks and the plate I5 of the racks immediately thereabove, respectively, is insufficient to permit removal of the spools journalled on said spindles. The spindles il of the uppermost rack I2 are similarly covered when th@ latter rack is in its normal operativ-e position, by a circular cover plate 23, diametrically opposite sides of which are rigidly secured to the uppermost ends of the rod II and tubular member I3 whereby the plate 23 is rigidly concentric with the standard.

It will thus be appreciated that each of the individual racks I2 is capable of being pivotally displaced from its normal coaxial relation with the plate 23 and with the rack plate I5 of the immediately superposed rack assembly I2 so as to permit spools to be installed or substituted upon the various spindles I'I of any of the rack whenever required. As the tubular member I3 lies in the arc of movement of the portion of each of the rack plates l5 which is diametrically opposed to the pivot rod` II, the tube I3 is horizontally slotted at each of the several levels of the respective rack plates I5, as indicated at 24, to permit perfect coaxial relationship of the plates of the racks with the standard 6 and with plate 23. The movement of each of the several racks I2 to this position is limited by a lug 25 carried by the periphery of each of the plates I5 which, upon coaxial registry of the racks with the standard 6, abuts against the side of the tubular member I3 directly above the slot 24 in member I3 into which the edge of the plate of the corresponding rack, is received.

The racks are normally locked against lateral displacement from beneath the plate 23 by the locking bar I4 which is pivotally associated with the tubular member I3. To accommodate the bar I4 the outermost arc of the tube I3 is slotted vertically, as at 26 the lower end of bar I4 being pivoted in the bore of the tube I3, whereby the bar may be swung from a position within the tube to a substantially horizontal position. Each of the plates I5 is formed with a short radial slot 21 in its periphery diametrically opposed to the holes through which the rod II projects so as to register radially with the slot 25 in the tube when. the associated lug 25 is in contact with the latter. Thus with the rack so arranged and the locking bar I4 engaged in the slot 2l of the rack plate I5, pivotal movement of the rack is obviated. The upper ends of the tubular member I3 and locking bar I4 are each provided with holes 28 which, with the bar I4 vertically disposed in the bore of the tube I3, register with one another for reception of a conventional lock 29.

A pair of thread guides 3E] are pivoted to the underside, and adjacent the periphery, of the lowermost plate I5 in diametric opposition so as to be swung radially outward from the circumference of the assembled racks. The outer end of each guide Sil is provided with a hole 3l to receive a thread from a spool carried by the rack. 32 indicates a handle by which the unit may be easily transported when not in use.

In accordance with the operation and utility of my invention, the base 5 is firmly mounted upon the sewing machine in a position from which thread, carried by the spools, may be withdrawn for engagement with needle or the reeling mechanism for the bobbin, of the machine. The entire rack assembly may be turned in the standard 6 to bring the spool 33 carrying the thread 34 to be engaged with the needle into a position Where it is most accessible for use. `The thread 34 may then be partially unreeled and Connectedv directly from the spool 33 to the needle of thefmachine, the bobbin of the sewing machine having to be previously lled with the. complementary thread ZI. If the next thread to be employed is of a different color or grade, another bobbin may be filled with the diierent thread coincidentally with the sewing operation. The thread band I8 nearest adjacent th'e'spool 22 through which it is drawn. If, by reason of the location of the selected spool 22 at the opposite sideof the rack assembly from the bobbin, the thread 2l to be wound upon the latter, when drawn taut, will rub upon a part of the rack assembly therebelow or upon the standard, one of the thread guides 3D may be swung outwardly from beneath the lowermost rack I'2 and the thread 2 I, extended through the hole 3I therein. The guide 30 thus functions to hold the thread 2! free of the rack elements located below the spool from which the bobbin thread is to be withdrawn, thus obviating any tendency toward breaking the thread incident to rubbing against or engagement with a sharp edge of the rack assembly. It will thus be apparent that bobbins may be wound with thread from any of the spools without rotatably shifting the rack assembly, while sewing with thread from any of the other spools. Due to the vertical arrangement of the several different spool-supporting assemblies it will be apparent that a large number of spools may be accommodated in a relatively small area of the sewing machine surface, and that incident to the rotatability of the several racks l2 all of the spools are easily accessible to either the needle or bobbin-winding mechanism of the sewing machine.

Due to the engagement of the locking bar I4 in each of the slots 21 of the respective racks none of the individual racks may be displaced from their coaxial relationship with the top cover plate 23 and accordingly, with the bar I4 securely locked, theft or loss of spools is impossible. Moreover, the operator or a person charged with the duty of replenishing the supply of thread for each machine to see at a glance the condition of the thread stock available. Nhen a spool is exhausted the lock 29 is disengaged, and the locking bar Ill displaced from the tube I3 whereupon the rack or racks containing the empty spools are swung outwardly from beneath the plate 23 and from beneath the rack immediately thereabove, as indicated in Fig. 2, and a new spool is thereupon substituted.

'I'he pivoted thread guides 30 may be simultaneously utilized for the extension of threads f from different spools to the needle and the bobbin, respectively. Ordinarily, however', the rack is preliminarily rotated to shift the spool from which thread is to be extended to the needle, to a position nearest adjacent the needle, and accordingly, the guides 30 are selectively employed as required to accommodate the thread 2l leading to the bobbin.

While I have shown and described but one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that numerous changes in size, design, shape, number and proportion of the various parts may be made, and that the rod and tubular member may be of greater length to accommodate additional racks corresponding in size and shape with the racks I2 where a larger number of spools are needed, without departing from the spirit of my invention as dened by the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a spool rack of a character described, a vertical standard, a frame rotatably mounted in said standard, said frame comprising a rod mounted in vertical position eccentric with respect to the standard, and a cover plate supported by the upper end of said rod in coaxial relationship with said standard, a plurality of spool racks each pivoted at a point adjacent its periphery on said rod for movement individually from coaxial relationship with the cover plate to a position displaced laterally from beneath said cover plate, each of said racks comprising a circular plate and a series of spool-retaining spindles mounted upon said circular plate, the upper ends of the spindles carried by said plates being spaced from the nearest adjacent plate thereabove, respectively, a distance less than the heights of the spools to be accommodated by the spindles.

2. In a spool rack of the character described, a vertical standard, a frame comprising a post journalled in said standard, a vertical rod carried by said frame and eccentrically disposed with respect to said standard, and a cover plate carried by the upper end of said rod, a plurality of spool racks eccentrically pivoted on said rod for movement from positions coaxial with said standard beneath said cover plate to positions laterally and eccentrically displaced from said cover plate, each of said racks comprising a circular plate having a plurality of spool-retaining spindles mounted in spaced vertical relation in a circle adjacent the edge of the plate thereof, the upper ends of the spindles carried by said plates being spaced from the nearest adjacent plate thereabove, respectively, a distance less than the heights of the spools to be accommodated by the spindles.

3. In a device of a character described, a vertical standard comprising an upright member and a laterally-onset element, a frame rotatably mounted in said standard, said frame comprising a rod mounted in vertical position eccentric with respect to the standard, and a cover plate supported by the upper end of said rod in coaxial relationship with said standard, a plurality of spool racks each pivoted at a point adjacent its periphery on said rod for movement individually from coaxial relationship with the cover plate to a position displaced laterally from beneath said cover plate, each of said racks comprising a circular plate and a series of spoolretaining spindles mounted upon said circular plate, the plate of each of said racks being radially slotted, and a bar pivoted to said rstnamed element for movement into engagement with said slots to lock said racks in coaxial relationship with said standard.

4. In a device of a character described, a vertical standard, a frame rotatably mounted in said standard, said frame comprising a rod mounted in vertical position eccentric with respect to the standard, and a cover plate supported by the upper end of said rod in coaxial relationship with said standard, a plurality of spool racks each pivoted at a point adjacent its periphery on said rod for movement individually from coaxial relationship with the cover plate to a position displaced laterally from beneath said cover plate, each of said racks comprising a circular plate and a series of spool-retaining spindles mounted upon said circular plate, and a thread guide pivoted to the plate of the lowermost rack for extension laterally thereof to hold and guide a thread Wound upon a spool journalled upon a spindle of any of said racks against Contact with any of the racks while being Withdrawn from the spool.

5. In a device of a character described, a vertical standard, a frame rotatably mounted in said standard, said frame comprising a rod mounted in vertical position eccentric with respect to the standard, and a cover plate supported by the upper end of said rod in coaxial relationship with said standard, a plurality of spool racks each pivoted at a point adjacent its periphery on said rod for movement individually from coaxial relationship with the cover plate to a position displaced laterally rom beneath said cover plate, each of said racks comprising a circular plate and a series of spool-retaining spindles mounted upon said circular plate, a band carried by the plate of each rack encircling the spindles mounted thereon, said band having a plurality of holes therein for extension of thread drawn from spools carried by said spindles, respectively.

PETER. R. BACCARO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

